The Higher Education Coordinating Board is sponsoring “Lights, Camera, College” – a student film contest that encourages youths to seek a path to college education.

The contest is open to students in grades 7 through 12 and attending public or private Washington schools.

Entries must be no more than four minutes in length, submitted in a common digital format and must be accompanied by an official entry form signed by the school principal or designee. Multiple entries from the same school are permitted.

The HECB will select winning entries for use in promoting student financial-aid programs and expanding the pipeline of students entering two- and four-year institutions.

Winning entrants will receive small prizes and HECB recognition, including the possible posting of videos on the state of Washington’s official YouTube Web site.

Winning videos also will be featured at the Washington State School Directors’ Association’s Annual Conference in November.

Some of the topics might include: Dreaming big and thinking about college early on; going to college and all the benefits provided by a higher education; or paying for college and all the great programs available to help applicants get there.

Entries must be received by Oct. 19.

For contest rules, including a contest for posters, visit www.hecb.wa.gov/go/videocontest.